Bolted joint



Nov. 2, 1937. A. w. ASHLEY 2,097,713

BOLTED JOI NT Filed Deo. 14, 1955 l l/// f Y 61cm/ww Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? ABonnin JorN'r Arthur W. Ashley, HoustolnTex. g Application December 14, 1935, serial No; 454,365

' a claims. `(ci. 22o-s1) This invention relates to new and useful `improvements in bolted joints. i

An object of the invention` is to provide an improved bolted joint `of the fluid-tight type.

In some respects this invention is an improvement upon the joint shown in my co-pending applicationled July 1, 1935, Serial No. 29,207, wherein a yielding or elastic ring is crowded around the threads of thebolt to form a fluid seal.

able ring. The improvement lies in shielding or withholding pressure from said ring until the sheets and other elements have beenbrought into intimate contact, and then distorting the ring upon the final turns lof the nut. This makes for a better joint and prevents any tendency to prematurely distort the yieldable ring before the joint is'fully tight. Y

. A particular object of the invention is'to provide an improved joint wherein the metallic washer Aor other contacting member is dished or offset to house or receive the yieldable ring, whereby said washer or member will first en gage the sheet or other part which is to be fastened to another sheet or part, and take up the slack by bringing said parts into intimate contact before pressure is applied to said ring.Vif

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic washer or member as set forth'which will flatten out upon the final turns of the nut, thus distorting the yieldable or elastic ring into the bolt hole and around the bolt threads, as i the fastening ofthe joint is being completed.

A' construction designed to carry out the in- L-vention will be hereinafter described,` together With other features of the invention.

The inventionwill be more readily understood from a reading of the followingspecication and by"`reference to the accompanying drawing, in

which an example of the invention f is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a metal structed in accordance .with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view showing one of the bolted joints before the parts are drawn together, A

Figure 3 is asimilar view showing the parts drawn together prior to final tightening, Figure 4 is a like view showing the washer flattened, the elastic ring distorted and the joint 5 completed, and

In turning the nut to draw the sheets and parts .together, pressure is also applied to the yield,

` tank having its sheets fastened by joints con-v Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged cross-sections of' two forms of washers.

In the drawing, the `numeral III designates a` portion of a metal tank which is constructed of a plurality of metal sheets or plates A and B.- Each plate has a plurality of enlarged bolt holes II spaced apart along its vertical edge, so that when the plates are overlapped, in joining them together, said holes will register. It is customary to enlarge the bolt holes II so that the boltsv I2 may be more readily passed therethrough, thus 'making an exact registration of the hole of one plate with holes of the other plate unnecessary.

A .channel bar I3 may be placed along one side of the jointand provided withholes I4 for receiving'the bolts-whereby their heads are held against rotation. However the invention does not depend upon such a bar and it may be omitted or any other suitable bar may be used.

In fastening the plates A and B together, an elongate strip'of packing material I5 is inserted between the overlapping portions of said plates. The strip is provided with bolt holes I6 which are usually made smaller than the holes II so that the bolts I4 will more snugly fit in the strip, thereby guarding against leaks.

Where the bar I3 is placed against the plate A, a washer I1 is passed over the protruding end of each bolt and a nut I8 is screwed on the bolt .to engage said washer. The washer is an important feature of the invention. 'Before placing the washer and nut on the bolt, a yieldable or elastic ring or annulus I9 is slipped onto the bolt and pushed firmly against the plate B. This should snugly fit the bolt..

The washer I1 is offset, dished or crowned so that its marginal edge will engage the plate B i and the ring will be housed in said washer as is shown in Figure 3. In Figu`re 5 an enlarged cross-section of the washer is shown in which the washer is offset and provided with an inclined seat or recess 29 surrounding its bolt hole 2I. This hole is not as large as the holes Il, but is just large enough to allow the washer tobe freely slipped on the bolt. In Figure 6 a dished washer is shown.

By offsetting or dishing the washer, it is obvious that when the nut I8 is'turned to tighten the joints, the elastic ring I9 will not be distorted. The edge or rim of the washer bearing on the li'plate B will force said plate toward the plate A, thereby taking up the slack and clamping the packing strip I5 between the plates, upon the'initial turns of the nut I8. Continued rotating of the nut will Hatten thewasher from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure `4. y

By rst taking upthe slack and rmly clamping the plates A.and B together, the ring is shouldered or protected from the pressure until such time as the other elements have been brought into intimate contact, therebyA eliminating anytendency to prematurely distort the elastic ring during the movement of the plates and other elements'toward each other. After'A saidplates have been brought into intimate contact, the nal turns of the nut atten the Washer which applies pressure to the elastic ring to crowd -the same into the opening surrounding the boltto provide a leak-proof joint. oiset or dished washer prevents any pressure being applied to the elastic ring until after all of the other elements have moved into intimate contact with each other. During such movement, said ring is fully protected from any pressure, and thus all danger of damaging the washer is eliminated. The ring is distorted into its packing or sealing position only when -the other elements have moved into contact withv each other, and pressure is applied to the joint Iis practically complete.

Because of the bite or the frictional engagement of the rim of the washer l1 with the plate B or other member, said washer does not rotate with the nut, but is held against rotation. It isl obvious that the head of the bolt and the nut could be reversed with relation to each other, in which case the head of said bolt instead of the nut would engage the washer.I The ring 'I9 may be constructed of leather, rubber, 'or any othe suitable yieldable or elastic material.

It would also be possible to distort the ring I9 without crowding it into its bolt hole, particularly where the hole was reduced to the size of the bolt. Also the washer Il may not always be.

' completely attened, vbut the ring would be distorted suiliclently to pack the joint.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bolted joint for a plurality of metallic plates having their edge portions overlapping and pro- 'vided with registering openings in said overlap-l lapping portions, includingmon-rotatably mounted threaded bolts adapted to be passed through said openings, a nut on the threaded portion of each bolt beyond one of said plates, a yieldable packing ring surrounding each bolt and opposed The provision ofthe said ring at the time when n .to the outer side of said plate, and dished deformable means surrounding each bolt between said pia and the nut', said dished deformable means cov ring said` packing ring and extending perphe'rally therebeyond whereby to engage said plate and shield said packing ring from pressure until the nut is tightened and the overlapping plate portions are drawn together, after which time said dished deformable means is flattened by further tightening of the nut and said packing ring ispressed and crowded into the' opening about the bolt to seal said opening.

2. A bolted joint for a plurality of metallic plates having their edge portions overlapping and provided with registering openings in said overlapping portions, including, threaded bolts ex'- tendjng through said openings, means for preventing rotation' of said bolts as applied, a nut on the outer en d portion of each bolt, a dished deformable. Washer surrounding each bolt between the nut thereon and one of said plates, and a yieldable packing ring surrounding each bolt between said plate and said dished` deformable Washer, said washer covering and extending peripherally beyond said packing ring whereby to' engage said plate and shield said rpacking ring from pressure until the plates have been drawn together to form the joint upon the initial tightening of the nut on the bolt, after which time the nut is further tightened to flatten said washer whereby to apply pressure to said packing ring and crowd it into the opening `about the bolt to seal said opening.

, 3. A bolted joint for a plurality of metallic plates having their edge portions overlapping and provided with 'registering openings in said overlapping portions, including, bolts extending through said openings, a yieldable packing ring carried by each bolt'in opposed relation to the outer side of one of said plates, an arched deformable element disposed on each boltover said packing ring to move endwise of the bolt and bearing normally against said plate and shielding said packing ring from pressure, and a nut on each bolt Aadapted-to be first tightened against said arched deformable element to drawthe plates together to form the joint without affecting said packing ring, after which time the continued tightening o f the nut attns said` archeddeformable element whereby to press and distort said packing ring and crowd it about the bolt with sealing effect in the opening. 

